Upside Down

For other uses, see Upside Down (disambiguation).

"Upside Down"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album diana
B-side	"Friend to Friend"
Released	June 25, 1980
Recorded	1979-1980
Genre	Disco, funk, R&B
Length	4:05
Label	Motown
Writer(s)	Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards
Producer	Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for Chic
Diana Ross singles chronology
"It's My House" (1979) "Upside Down" (1980) "I'm Coming Out" (1980)

"Upside Down" is a hit song by Diana Ross released on the Motown label. It was the first single taken from her 1980 album diana and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 1980. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco/Dance and R&B charts. The single was also a big hit internationally, topping the singles charts in Italy, Norway and Switzerland, while reaching #5 in Canada. It also rose to #2 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the highest peak performance from Ross as a solo artist since "I'm Still Waiting" in 1971.

The song listed at #62 on Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time".

History

The song was written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers (of the band Chic) with Aretha Franklin in mind to record. When Franklin turned down the offer to record the album Motown passed the material and project to Ross.

However, in a 2011 interview, Nile Rodgers said "Diana Ross was the first big star we ever worked with and we took it very seriously." Rodgers and Edwards interviewed her for several days. "This was the first time in her life somebody cared about who she was; what she was - everyone previously had treated her the way we had treated Sister Sledge - they got her in and said 'Sing this'. We (took a more personal approach)."

The song would be later covered and sampled by the likes of Salt-N-Pepa, Kid Rock, Missy Elliott, Alcazar, Puff Daddy, Collette and MC Lyte, who had a hit under the "Upside Down" sample in Lyte's 1996 hit, "Cold Rock a Party (Remix)". The Salt-N-Pepa version was featured on the Space Jam soundtrack.

The song was later covered by Destiny's Child during a tribute show honoring Ross and her career on a VH1 Divas special. Their version is featured on their album Single Remix Tracks.

In 1994, the song was used in Mickey's Fun Songs: Let's Go to the Circus with a different arrangement and lyrics.

In 1997, Ross performed the song live with British band Jamiroquai at "The Brit Awards" ceremony.

In 2001, contemporary jazz/fusion group Pieces of a Dream offered their version from the release "Acquainted With the Night."

A cover of the song appears on Robert Plant's 2003 album Sixty Six to Timbuktu album was released

In 2004, Alcazar sampled "Upside Down" in their song "This Is the World We Live In".

Track listing

UK 12"

Side A

1. "Upside Down" (93' Remix, David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mix)
2. "The Best Years of My Life" (Album Version)

Side B

1. "Upside Down" (Morales Dub, David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie mix)
2. "Upside Down" (Album Version)

UK 12" #2

Side A

1. "Upside Down"

Side B

1. "Upside Down" (Remix by David Morales & Satoshi Tomiie)

Music video

The music video contains no plot and consists mostly of cut scenes together. In some of the scenes Diana Ross poses in different clothes on camera and by the way are also displayed pictures of her.

Language

Linguistically the song is notable for its use of the archaic form of the second person singular pronoun, Thou/Thee, in the phrase: "Respectfully I say to thee I'm aware that you're cheatin'."

References

Preceded by "Sailing" by Christopher Cross	Billboard Hot 100 number one single September 6, 1980 - September 27, 1980 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen
Preceded by "Moskau" by Dschinghis Khan	Australian Kent Music Report number-one single September 29, 1980 - October 20, 1980	Succeeded by "More Than I Can Say" by Leo Sayer
Preceded by "Food for Thought" by UB40	New Zealand Singles Chart 10 October 1980 - 24 October 1980	Succeeded by "Master Blaster (Jammin)" by Stevie Wonder
Preceded by "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" by The SOS Band	Hot Dance Club Songs number one single (with "I'm Coming Out") August 9, 1980 - August 23, 1980	Succeeded by "Fame" by Irene Cara "Red Light" / "Hot Lunch Jam" by Linda Clifford
Preceded by "Fame" by Irene Cara "Red Light" / "Hot Lunch Jam" by Linda Clifford	Hot Dance Club Songs number one single (with "I'm Coming Out") September 6, 1980 - September 13, 1980	Succeeded by "Love Sensation" by Loleatta Holloway
Preceded by "One in a Million You" by Larry Graham	Billboard Soul Singles chart number-one single August 16, 1980 - September 6, 1980	Succeeded by "Give Me the Night" by George Benson